Page 22 of Wolf's Whistle
Armand blushed. “I should have known better than to try to argue style with you, Julio. You’re right, this color makes his skin tone yellow like he is in liver failure. We’re done here, Sean. I have some work to do at home.” Armand’s gaze moved over to Julien. “Finish at Barney’s and the electronics store. You’re going to have a long night. Julio tells me that Richard is a speed reader.”
“Colin’s books.” Julien’s eyes grew wide.
“Exactly.” Armand left with his entourage, and Marcel appeared outside the door. Etienne, Julio and he, and Julien continued to Barney’s.
Richard waited until they got into the limousine to confront Julien. “Five bespoke suits, silk T-shirts, and boxers, a silk robe, and pajamas, not to mention ten handmade shirts and eight silk ties. I’ll have to work for free for the rest of my life to pay you back for these things.”
“Hush now, it’s nothing. You’re going to be traveling with me on business, you need to dress like a successful professional.”
Richard’s nose wrinkled. “But no one is going to see my underwear. I could have gone to Marshalls and bought out the store in my size for the price of one set of boxers and a T-shirt.”
“You need to be comfortable underneath as well as on top. Now we go for shoes.”
“I have shoes.”
“You don’t have shoes like these. Now you need cordovan, black and brown, plus a pair of good sneakers and slippers.” They drove over to John Lobb and ordered custom shoes and then on to Barney’s to pick up some footwear until the custom ones were ready. Richard was almost rendered mute.
By the end of the day, he was fully outfitted with a computer, a Samsung Note on which he could read and listen to books and a blackcorporate(?)American Express card with his name emblazoned on the front.
§ § §
Julio and Etienne spent the whole day with him and Julien. Every time he tried to refuse something, Julio would put it back on the counter and say, “You need this. Do yourself a favor, read Colin’s last series. Julien has already connected your new American Express card to your new Amazon account.”
“How? He didn’t have my e-mail or my password.”
“He used your new Garou Industries e-mail and a temporary password. They have a very secure network that they prefer their employees and members of the family to use. You can change your password to something you’ll remember when you get home. Ask him the for the new password. He probably used Peaches One or something like that. They’re very romantic.”
“Okay…” Richard seemed a bit befuddled.
Julio continued, “Once you finish the books, and I know you read fast, promise me that you’ll call me first. This is very important. Call me before you do anything.”
“For all of my life you’ve been the best friend I’ve ever had. Despite all that you’ve been through, you came to Chicago, thought of me, and swooped in changing my miserable situation for the better. Julio, if you want me to call you first, I swear to you, I’ll do that, no matter what.”
“What do you think about Julien? Do you like him?” Julio cocked his head.
“I could go very far down that rabbit hole, but I imagine he’s just being kind. Oh, here comes Julien and Etienne and Goddamn it, there’s that string. Julio, do you know any eye doctors?”
“Don’t worry about it. Pretty soon you won’t need one.”
“Huh?”
“Here they are.” Julien and Etienne walked up to the register.
“Yeah, here we are. I’m trying to talk Richard into a dozen linen handkerchiefs.” Julio smiled blandly at Etienne.
“You need at least a dozen white to use and eight in silk to match your ties. We can’t forget shoes for your tux.” Julien tapped his well-manicured fingers on the counter.
“You ordered me a tux? When am I going to need a tuxedo?” Richard was working up a head of steam.
“I’ve got one, it’s wonderful.” Julio patted his shoulder. “It’s iridescent gray and comes with a pink vest, darker tie, and handkerchief. Etienne had it made for me. Like you always did, Richard, he knows who I am.”
“You’re married, what doIneed a tuxedo for?”
“When we go out to corporate parties and dinners, you’ll need a tux,” Julien explained somewhat reasonably.
Richard threw up his hands. “Why am I even here if I don’t even have veto power?”
Julio looked him straight in the eye, smiled and said, “You had to be measured.”
